Football legend Alan Shearer has been awarded an honorary degree by Northumbria University.

The former Newcastle United and England star received the Doctorate of Civil Law at a ceremony at Newcastle's City Hall on Monday.

The 36-year-old first hit the headlines in April 1988 when he scored a hat-trick against Arsenal in his full debut for Southampton.

He said receiving the degree was a "wonderful accolade."

His career went from strength to strength with a record breaking transfer to Blackburn Rovers and he was instrumental in Rovers clinching the Premier League title in 1995.

'Lucky youngster'

Shearer's skills were also sought after by clubs all over the world, but his final move was another record breaking £15m transfer to Newcastle United - the club he had supported when he was growing up in Gosforth.

During his career, he was also the top Premier League scorer in three successive seasons and the only player in history to score more than 100 goals for two different clubs.

Vice chancellor at the university, Professor Kel Fidler, said: "Throughout his career Alan Shearer has been hard-working, committed, disciplined and focused in his endeavours, fighting back from career-threatening injuries with great determination and courage."

Shearer said: "This is a wonderful accolade and collecting the honorary degree was a proud moment for me and for my family.

"I was lucky as a youngster to get a lot of great support and I understand how important it can be if you want to develop and excel in a sporting career."

Comedy writers Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais creators of The Likely Lads, Porridge and Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, also received honorary degrees at the same ceremony.